I am an associate professor at the Gene Therapy Institute, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem where I directs a laboratory, focusing on the role of chemokines and chemokine receptor in stem cell mobilization, inflammation and cancer. My laboratory devlop novel cell and molecular therapeutics for cancer and have been involved in the last 16 years in the development of novel therapies to cancer that are currently in Phase II and III clinical studies. Our laboratory worked in close collaboration with Israeli Biotechnology companies such as Biokine Therapeutics LTD, BiolineRX, and Gamida Cell.

(A) Activation of CXCR4 by overexpression of the receptor induces two important separate signaling pathways. On the one hand, there is an upregulation of miR-15a/16-1 leading to the downregulation of target genes such as BCL-2 and CCND1. On the other hand, the MAPK signaling cascade is activated. This process shifts the cells dependency leading to the oncogenic addiction on CXCR4 resulting in enhanced cell survival. (B) In the case of inhibition of CXCR4 by inhibitors such as BL-8040, miR-15a/16-1 are upregulated leading to reduction in BCL-2 and CCND1 survival signals. Nonetheless, MAPK signaling pathway is repressed leading to cell death.

Michal Abraham et al. Two Oral presentations at the ASH in 2016 and 2017 on Leukemia and stem cell mobilization.

Lab Staff

Productivity in Nature as well as in Biomedical Sciences is dependent on personality (innovative, hardworking, professionalism, knowledge, curiosity, stamina and love to science and good food). We educate to this in our lab and institute.

The most valuable and important asset of any scientific team is the students and their ability to cook good food and have fun together.